We join the world of sport in sending our condolences to Franco Baresi's family. Inter head coach Cristian Chivu made the announcement on the eve of the team's pre-season friendly against Manchester City, hailing the late Milan great as "a great icon" of the game.
Cristian Chivu has led the tributes to Franco Baresi, who died on Friday aged 66. Baresi was a legendary Italian defender and a key player for Milan in the 1980s and 1990s. He won numerous titles, including the European Cup and the Serie A championship.
Inter are set to face Manchester City in their pre-season friendly at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on Saturday. The two teams are still short of full fitness after building up through a training camp in Germany. Despite this, Chivu was glowing about the opportunity to prepare for the new campaign in such surroundings.
Chivu was also enthusiastic about his newest signing, John Stones, who has joined the champions on a free transfer. "I'm happy with Stones' arrival," Chivu said. "He is important for us for many reasons: his quality, his personality and his charisma." Stones is expected to raise the level of Inter's defence, a key area of improvement for the team.
Stones' arrival is a significant boost for Inter as they look to build on their recent title success. With a month of the transfer window still to run, Chivu is keen to assess further opportunities for reinforcements. "We need patience," he said. "I ask for the bar to be raised."
Inter will face a stiff test against Manchester City, who have appointed a new manager in Enzo Maresca. Maresca has already won the Championship and the Club World Cup in his previous role, and Chivu believes he is the right man to lead the club. "He has already won the Championship and the Club World Cup," Chivu said. "He is young, but he has already done very well."
The match against Manchester City is just the beginning of a long and challenging season for Inter. With a strong squad and a talented new signing, Chivu is optimistic about the team's chances. "We will assess the opportunities for further reinforcements capable of taking the team to the next level," he said.
The stage is set for a thrilling encounter between Inter and Manchester City in Hong Kong on Saturday. With both teams still short of full fitness, the match promises to be a closely contested and intense affair.
Source: Yahoo Sports